§466g–1 Controversies Involving Construction or Application of Interstate Compacts and Pollution of Waters

Summary

Federal district courts can start cases when the case is about how to read or apply an interstate agreement that deals, in whole or part, with pollution of an interstate river system, and the states that signed that agreement agreed to be sued in those courts. The case must claim pollution that breaks the compact, have one or more signatory states as the plaintiff, and be something federal courts can decide under the Constitution. The district courts can do this even though the Supreme Court or other courts may also have original authority. There is no rule about how much money is at stake or where people live or are citizens. A State may not use these courts to sue its own citizens. These courts can hear suits between states that signed the compact, but not against a state that did not sign. The case may be filed in any district where the pollution happened.